Pleasanton Weekly

BUSC U15 Premier heads to State Cup final this weekend

Exciting semifinal paves the way

BUSC U15 Premier will meet the Stockton Monarcas Aztec Warriors at 11 a.m. Sunday in Turlock in a soccer match for the NorCal State Cup.

The BUSC team returned to the soccer State Cup quarterfinal for the second year in a row April 20, determined to change the results from last year. Their opponent was the two time defending State Cup champions from Redwood City, Juventus Heat 1. BUSC won, 2-1.

The next day, BUSC faced the PAC Indios. The half ended 0-1 for Indios. The second half got under way with BUSC stepping up the line of defending.

Indios caused some trouble by blasting the ball and chasing it, only to be thwarted on each attempt by the BUSC center backs Nick Tucker and Armon Ojuola. BUSC attacking midfielder Zachery Connelly gained control of the ball just outside of the Indios penalty box, and sprinted toward the goal. He was about to shoot, and an Indios defender made a foul from behind. A penalty kick was awarded to BUSC. Sam Molz stepped to the spot and smashed the ball into the back of the net to even the game, 1-1.

Because this is a knockout tournament, the game continued into two five-minute Golden Goal Overtime periods, meaning sudden death. Ryan Racer hit a low hard ball that made it to the far side of the goalmouth. Jamal Dessouky then struck the ball into the top of goal. The game ended here, 2-1, with BUSC winning Golden Goal.

This team has been on a roll this year. In the fall, it finished second in the prestigious NorCal National Premier League, losing out on first place by one goal.

The core of the team has been together since they played in U9s and 10s.

This story contains 292 words.

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